Small Bellies

As long as their doctors are telling them the babies are measuring fine I'd tell them not to worry. I was small to begin with when I got pregnant with my first (around 110 lbs) and ended up only gaining 20 lbs (and this was working at a fast-food restaurant) and my little girl was not even a week early and weighed 7 lbs 3 oz and was perfectly healthy. My doctor did tell me the whole time he'd like me to gain a little more, but my body just wouldn't let me. My pregnancy with my son, though, I gained close to 40 lbs and he was almost a pound bigger than my daughter. All I'm saying is everyone's different and every pregnancy is different and they don't need to worry about it unless their doctor's are concerned. Hope this helped and tell them good luck.

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Hey C.-

I have been like that with all 3 of my pregnancies, especially with my last one (she is now 6 weeks old). I gained 20 lbs with my first and she was born at 39 weeks at 6 lbs 10 oz. My second baby was born at 36 weeks and was
6 lbs 6 oz and my third baby was born at 38 weeks at 5 lbs 13 oz. I didn't really start to put on weight with any of them until the last 6-8 weeks of the pregnancy. I measured
2-3 weeks smaller than the gestational age with them all. I had different doctors with all 3 (due to moving) and none of them had any issues or concerns with my "lack of weight gain". As long as the babies are growing and everything else is going routinely I don't think they should worry.

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Hey,

You need to watch "I didn't know I was pregnant" Tons of girls on that show didn't even know they were pregnant because they weren't showing. Since all pregnancies are different - it's very possible that your friends just don't gain much or look much pregnant. I didn't show until 7 months. I took pictures when I was 6 months along and had to stick out my belly... LOL! I'm not fat nor skinny - pretty average at the time. Oh and don't forget that baby gains most of their fat at the end of the pregnancy.

Just remember every pregnancy and body is different :)

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Hi C.,

this happened to me with my first. I didn't show till about 5 months and my belly was measuring small. My midwife ordered an ultrasound to make sure the baby was thriving. She was, and there was no problem. If the baby has intrauterine growth retardation, that can be a problem but I'm sure the medical professionals have their eye on that, so there's no need to worry themselves.

In most cases, however, the baby is on the smaller side, but healthy. If your friends are quite fit, their strong abdominal muscles may keep them from popping very soon.

Here's something you can tell your friends that my midwife told me: "Somebody needs to be in the lower 50th percentile!"

It made me feel better. BTW, my daughter was born at 6 lbs 15 oz with absolutely no problems.

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On my first, I was 128 lbs and had a tiny pooch at 5 months and didn't really have a belly until I was 7 months along.
My second pregnancy, I started showing at 2 1/2 months. My 3rd pregnancy, I had a flat stomach at 6 months and blew up at 7 months and he was born 8 lbs 2 oz, and my last pregnancy I honestly thought I was carring twins, because I started showing at 2 months and was really big at the end and he only weighed 7 lbs 11 oz, so EVERY pregnancy is different and every woman is different. I wouldn't worry unless their doctor is worried.
By the way, all my pregnancies were "normal" and no problems.
Hope that helps!
V.

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You don't say how large these women normally are. My sister in law was a big woman and lost weight during all three of her pregnancies and the babies were all between 7 and 8 pounds. Actually she jokes about how the only way to lose weight is to get pregnant. It would help to know how much these woman weigh to start with. But I know some women don't show until their 5th or 6th month. Some never do gain weight....Their doctors would be the best ones to give them the right advice.

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If the doctor said the babies are fine then they shouldn't worry. With my son (now 3 1/2) I didn't start to really look pregnant until about 7 months. Granted I was a bit over weight to begin with and I have very wide hips. At the visits I measured just fine. I only gained 15 pounds and he was born 8 days before the due day and was 7 1/2 lbs 20 inches long. With my daughter (now 3 1/2 months)I only gained 10 lbs (was very very sick with her though) measured of average size. In fact they expected her to be a little heavier than my son. When I finally had her she was only 5 lbs 14 oz and 19 inches long. Both of my children were born very healthy. My son is very verbally advanced for his age (not bragging, preschool teacher and doctor have told me this)and my daughter has been reaching the typical infant milestones early. Every pregnancy is different. There is no real ryhme or reason with it.

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Hi C.,
As long as the ultrasounds show that their babies are growing properly, tell them not to worry about what they look like or how much weight they gain. During my pregnancy, I lost weight bc I was sick so much. So I came out on the negative side and didn't start showing until the 8th month. My son was 7 pounds 11 oz and two weeks early! Remind them that every pregnancy and body is different.

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Every pregnancy is different and every "body" is different. It's also in the genetics. They should ask the women in their families how THEIR pregnancies went as far as weight gain and measurements. What are their doctors saying?

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I would have them bring up their concerns to their doctors, but there may be nothing amiss. I'm nearly 6 ft tall and have always been curvy. I was very sick during my pregnancy and gained barely any weight and it took me forever to show. I was wearing my normal clothes right up to delivery. At one point I did measure small, but ended up catching back up. Good luck to both of your friends.

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With my first it took quite a while for me to start showing. And I had trouble gaining weight. The doctor wasn't concerned at first because he said if you tend to be on the thin side these things can be normal. But I had complications and only ended up gaining 10 lbs in my whole 32 weeks of pregnancy. But with my second it was very different. I showed sooner and happily gained 27 or 28 lbs! They really do need to discuss it with their doctor though because what they are experiencing can be perfectly normal or can signal various things.

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I gained 5 lbs with my last pregnant..TOTAL. I also didn't start showing with ANY of my kids until 7ish months. Me last, whom I only gained 5 lbs with was "measuring small" since my 30 week appt. She was 7 lbs 12 ozs. Not even my smallest! As much as the doctors try and guess they can't be accurate until the baby is born! Don't worry!

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When I was at the doctor for my last check up before I had my daughter I did not look as big as most - when someone in the office asked when I was due and I said any time now they were shocked and said I looked 5-6 months pregnant. When I compare it to my second pregnancy I definitely looked small for full term. I was measuring a bit small but the doctors never expressed concern and my daughter was healthy and normal however she did only weigh 4 pounds and 15 ounces.

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I also carried very small during my pregnancy. I gained the weight slowly during the beginning. My weight gain sounds very similar to your friends'. I gained a good amount of weight during the last month. At each OB appointment, my doctor said she was very happy with my weight & it was PERFECT. I was 40 at the time, considering my age, they would have definitely told me if I needed to gain more.
I was right in the middle of the suggested range of weight gain when I had my daughter.
I have to tell you, I did eat constantly.
However, I kept a VERY healthy diet during pregnancy. (I was fortunate that my cravings were healthy..it wasn't just my self control that kept my diet so healthy LOL.)

Please, try to limit your comments. I received so many negative comments during the pregnancy. During the 7th month of my pregnancy a woman asked me how far along. I told her & a man with her told me I 'might want to start feeding my baby.' Of course, I told him I'd rather follow my doctor's advice, rather than his, thank you. However, I was in tears afterward. I was just sick of hearing so many negative comments. I told my doctor at the next appointment and she was pretty angry. She said my weight was right on track.
Your friends doctors' will tell them if they need to gain more weight. I'm sure you're a wonderful friend. Just leave the medical advice to the professionals.

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I am naturally skinny--healthy at about 108 lbs at 5'6". I was underweight 103 lbs when i got pregnant with my daughter. I worked very hard to gain the weight. They suggested i gain 40 lbs. I gained about 34 lbs eating all healthy and nourishing foods. I have a long waist too, and so it took a long time for me to show. For a while I just looked like I'd eaten at a buffett. By 6 or 7 months I was showing. My child is super healthy. Make sure these gals are eating real life giving foods, not cake and ice cream. And if they are skinny and long wasted and it's their first kid, it's normal not to show right away.

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Hi!

I have a two year old boy and I'm pregnant now with my second, about 23 weeks. With my first pregnancy I had a really small belly, I mean tiny! nobody could tell I was pregnant till I was about 8 months pregnant, at my delivery all my nurses though I was having a preime but I was full term. The baby was small he weighed 5lbs 13oz and was perfectly healthy then and now (keeping me on my toes)
This second time around so far it looks like I'm going to have a small belly again. The doctor's tell me that I have a retroverted uterus, meaning that it tilts backwards instead of forward, so my bellies grow back and up before they start popping out (for me usually around 8mo, and i have yet to buy maternity clothes so pop is a relative term)

I hope this helps!!!

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